For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Romans 1:16-17 (ESV)
During the first century under the might Roman empire, Paul announces that he was not ashamed or afraid to proclaim the good news message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is passionate and all pumped up to spread the good news among Romans. At the same time, many were hesitant against mighty, powerful, and famous Rome to express the good news. We do many times today underestimate Jesus’s death on the cross and its purpose. Somehow Paul was adamant and passionate to carry forward the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Paul had a clear gospel clarity, he was not in a perplex mode. He understood the massive importance of the gospel message. Not only that, but he was also a victim of the good nature of God’s righteousness. Paul received the righteousness of God from God or in other words, Jesus’s righteous work from the cross. It is a free gift, all we have to believe in Christ Jesus that he died on the cross for our sins. Then how we are rescued from sin?
Every human in the world lost their legal standing before God since Adam and Eve’s fall. As we are the sons and daughters of the first human parents we inherited their status through our birth. There is no way that we can rescue ourselves through our good work. Moreover, in default, we do not recognize our need to be reconciled with the Creator. At this point, the rescuing gospel message preached to us to realize that we are sinners and we need a savior.
Though all the above points make some feel no sense then you need to try it out at-least with a thought. No other God in the world we ever hear that the creator God became a Man and died on the cross for all humans. Jesus is a real person who lived 2000 years ago who resurrected after 3 days. Jesus conquered death so that we may live eternally with Him. We became righteous when we believe him and his status is transferred to us. This new status gives us a legal standing before God which our earliest parents lost it. Through Jesus, we are reconciled with God the Father with a renewing heart by the Holy Spirit. As it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”